Andrew Katz

Orcro Limited and Bristows LLP (UK)

Formerly a software developer, Andrew has over 30 years' experience as a specialist in technology law with a particular interest in open source software, content and hardware. In 2018 he founded Orcro Limited, which provides specialist compliance, change management and governance consultancy for Open Source Software and Open Hardware. He is a qualified solicitor practising in London at Bristows LLP, one of the UK's pre-eminent intellectual property and technology law firms where he leads the Bristows Open Source team.

He is described by Chambers and Partners (2026 edition) as "one of the world's leading legal experts on open source and open hardware licensing".

He led the Open Hardware section of a major European Commission Study on the Impact of Open Source Software and Hardware, published in 2021 and has been involved in the drafting of a number of open source software licences, including GPLv3 and the Eclipse Public License 2.0. He drafted the Solderpad Hardware License and was a core drafter of the CERN Open Hardware Licence.